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Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

What is a vocational rehabilitation counselor?

Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities in planning careers, and finding and keeping satisfying jobs. They evaluate the patient for the following:

Education and job training history prior to the disability

Skills and training potential since the disability

Personal interest and motivation

Financial needs

Progress after job placement

Vocational rehabilitation counselors educate disabled patients about their rights and protection based on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. They also serve as mediators for disabled employees and their employers regarding proper accommodations in the workplace. Vocational counselors are responsible for continued counseling, reevaluation, and reeducation of the patient with regard to vocational issues.

Vocational rehabilitation counselors may practice in a variety of settings, including the following:

Inpatient rehabilitation centers

Outpatient rehabilitation centers

Psychiatric care settings

Industrial health settings

Private practice

Vocational rehabilitation counselors are Master's prepared and certified by the Board for Rehabilitation Certification. Many are also prepared as psychologists.